Improvement in rotary harrow



dialed mes 1 i stmt lith. f

Lette/rs Patent No. 95,788, dated October 12, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN ROTARY HARROW.

The Schedule 'referred to in these Letters Patent and making part: ofthe same.

To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that I,HENRY A. GASTON, of Stockton,.in the county of-San Joaquin, and State of California, have invented certain new and'useful Improvements in the Construction of Harrows; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the an nexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1- is a top planview of my harrow, showlng' its arms c, the upper side oi' it-s lower central casting, a a, 85o., and its outer rim or band', t.

'Figure 2 is a transverse central sectional view of the upper casting, showing a boss, b, extending upward from its upper surface.

Figure 3 represents the lower side of. the upper casting, being the reverse of the. upper side of the lower.

Figure 4 represents a right-angled triangular frame,

eacharxn of which equals or exceeds in length an' arm of the barrow, and which is provided, at its angie, with the loop o and its extensions I P, and which is also provided with a cross-bar, f.'

Figure 5 represents a bolt, provided with a head at one end, and a washer 'at the other, which bolt passes through the loop o, iig. 4, and the -orifices 0,- in figs. l, 2, and 3, thereby attaching the triangular frame,- fig. 4,'to the rotating part of the harrow.

The nature of my invention consists in arranging the arms of a hai-row at tangente of a circle, and bracing andlsupporting each the other, in such a way that all the strength of the timber is retained throughout the length of the arm, that framing is dispensed with; that none of the teeth in one arm can track those of another arm ;v and, by another simple and novel contrivance, causing the harrow to rotate upon its own axis, thereby harrowing and cross-harrowing the ground over which it is hauled at oneoperation.`

To enable others skilled in the art to make and usemy invention, I will proceed to describe its construction, premising that, for the purpose of explanation, the drawings may be taken as on a scale of one inch for one foot.

I provide two`novel iron disks, as seen at g. 3, and at the centre of iig. 1, upon the inner surfaces of which I provide the iight and left-hand projections, seen upon each side ofthe letters a, extending such projecltions not quite halt' the depth of the arms, which I wish them to clasp, and so far apart that they 'embrace such arms closely on each side.

I provide the same surfaces of these disks with central projecting cylindrical hubs, as seen around the letters o, figs. 1 and 3, that in this novel way, I may as seen at h1 and h2.

By this 'novel contrivance,when I desire to rotate my harrow from right to left, I draw by hook h1, and the weight of the opposite larm ofthe triangle, and hook h, press that side of the barrow alittle deeper into the earth than its opposite, and causes the harrow to revolve, while, if I wish it to turn from left to righ't, I draw by hook h2, and the harrow rotates in the opposite direction.

This novel barrow never requires to be lifted; cannot be clogged; wears its teeth evenly on all sides; performs twice the work of the square harrowkt'vith the same labor and one operation; and possesses the great feature of simplicity which farmers desire.

y I am aware of a German harrow having a triangular frame like mine; but that frame has but one hook, so that the harrow can never be reversed by its use.

I am also aware that there is a triangular frame having one hook, and one of the arms hinged at the centre ot' the harrow, so that it may be thrown over to the other side, and thus reverse' the mot-ion of the harrow; but this invention is inferior to mine in sim plicity, cheapness, and strength.

Furthermore, I am informed that there is a harrow having a draw-bar extending straight across the whole circle, and having, a hook at each end. This device, however, is not the equivalent of mine, because neither `of the arms serves as aweght, and an additional weight has to be provided.

A further advantage resultingy from the use of my draw-flame is that, if desired, two horses can be hitched on at once, with an interval between them, to keep them from quarrelling, or heatingeach other.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- I l 1. The central right and left disks, with their projections (right and left) and theircentral cylindrical projections, when 'constructed substantially as above described.

2. The right-angled triangular frame, provided with the hooks hl and h2, constructed substantially as and for the purpose above described. l

3. A rotary harrow, constructed and operated substantially' as above described.

IVitnesses: HENRY A. GASTON.

CHARLES H. SANFORD, SULLIVAN C. Criss. 

